Kevin Stefanski Praises Tua Tagovailoa’s Talent

New Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski has expressed admiration for Tua Tagovailoa, particularly noting his exceptional passing accuracy. During a recent OTA session in Atlanta, Stefanski highlighted Tagovailoa’s “natural, God-given ability.”

When asked about the importance of accuracy for a quarterback, Stefanski remarked, “I think that’s definitely the most crucial trait in this position. Some players can improve their throw mechanics, or tweak their lower body movements.” He added that all the quarterbacks on the team have the potential to throw the ball accurately but acknowledged, “Of course, everyone misses throws sometimes.”

Stefanski singled out Tagovailoa, stating, “I believe Tua has that innate ability, which we’ve seen throughout his career.” This season marks Tagovailoa’s first with the Falcons after his release from the Dolphins, where a substantial cap hit influenced his departure. He signed a one-year, $1.215 million deal with Atlanta.

The former No. 5 overall pick has had a tumultuous stint in the NFL, marked by high expectations shadowed by injuries and inconsistencies. His last year at South Florida was challenging, throwing for 2,660 yards with 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Unfortunately, due to his performance, he was benched for the last three games.

Despite these struggles, Tagovailoa has maintained an impressive completion percentage of 68.6% since 2021, ranking second to Joe Burrow among quarterbacks with a minimum of 60 games played.

Interestingly, in 2023 alone, Tagovailoa led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards. He’ll face competition from Michael Penix Jr. for the starting quarterback position in Atlanta.